Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of
Representatives tonight passed legislation that would block critical protections
against toxic mercury and other dangerous chemicals and metals emitted by
industrial boilers, which are among the nation’s biggest and dirtiest sources
of mercury pollution. Boilers exist in and around hospitals, schools and
communities across the country, exposing Americans to toxic mercury pollution,
a known brain poison that threatens the development of young children.
The bill is the latest in a series of dangerous attacks waged by House
Leadership on public health protections and the Clean Air Act.

In
response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune issued the following
statement:

“By passing H.R. 2250, the U.S.
House has again voted to put polluter interests over the public's health.
H.R. 2250 blocks toxic mercury protections that have already been
delayed more than two decades and allows industrial boilers, some of the
nation’s biggest, dirtiest sources of mercury pollution, to continue spewing
toxic mercury into our air and water without limits.

“To be clear, the House’s actions tonight will create zero jobs, and serve only to advance the House Leadership’s
pro-polluter, anti-public health agenda.

“The Sierra Club
applauds President Obama’s commitment to veto these reckless bills and we urge
the Senate to reject these polluter-led attacks on public health.”